California Obituaries, Los Angeles County
Submitted by Peggy Hooper
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The Downey Eagle
April 10, 1998 Volume 6 Number 7
Judge Carroll Dunnum remembered by Downey
DOWNEY-Private funeral services were held for Judge Carroll Dunnum, a driving force in the
movement to incorporate Downey as a city, who later served three terms as mayor, was a
member of the Board of Trustees of the Downey Union High School District from 1957 to 1961,
and then became a Municipal Court Judge in Downey and a Superior Court Judge in Long Beach.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota Aug. 17, 1917, he died suddenly of a heart attack March 30 at
Long Beach Community Hospital.
He came to California as a young man and first obtained an accounting degree, but his interest
turned to law. He entered Loyola Law School, where he received a bachelor of law degree. He
started his law practice in Los Angeles. He and Priscilla Dunnum established the law firm of
Dunnum & Dunnum Attorneys at Law in South Gate, and later moved their firm to Downey, where
he practiced until being appointed to the bench.
Active in the movement to incorporate Downey, he was a member of its first City Council and
helped develop the City's first fire and police departments.
A member of Rotary International and the Elks Lodge, he was a community leader, remembered
for his kindness, generosity, gentle nature and soft-spoken way.
But he had a strong sense of justice when on the bench. He loved law and continued working with
it even after his retirement. He joined an arbitration and mediation company, and also worked for
Long Beach and Norwalk Superior Courts as arbitrator until the time of his death.
He played golf in the California Judges Association Golf Group, and was known for his good nature
and sense of humor on the links. He dreamed of a hole-in-one, but never got one. However, he did
win a world tournament for one-armed golfers in St. Andrews, Scotland. He had only one arm since
birth.
In addition to golf he enjoyed tennis, baseball, and bowling, and was also a hunter and marksman.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Monte.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Janelle; three children, Carolyn, Monte and Ann; a son-in-law,
Ralph; grandson Thomas; nephew Jeff; and a stepdaughter, Judy.